New England Revolution’s Lee Nguyen makes opponents pay for penalties

Since midfielder Lee Nguyen joined the Revolution in 2012, he has been responsible, largely, for taking the team’s penalty kicks.

He took one of the team’s two kicks in 2012 and was successful. Last season, he took three of the team’s five kicks and converted two of them.

This year, the Revolution are taking kicks from the 12-yard penalty marker more than usual. In nine games, they already have had three attempts. To little surprise, Nguyen has been called upon in each of the situations and has delivered.

In each of the team’s last three games, Nguyen has scored on a penalty kick, powering the Revolution during a four-game unbeaten streak that has vaulted them into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Nguyen’s latest strike came in the 82d minute of Saturday’s game against Toronto, boosting the Revolution (4-3-2) to a 2-1 victory and giving the team 14 points on the season.

“It’s been something that we’ve had more often this season than last season,” Nguyen said. “But it’s something that you train, practice during the season. You don’t know when it’s going to come, but you always have to be ready for it.”

Just a week

via Revolution’s Lee Nguyen makes opponents pay for penalties – Sports – The Boston Globe.